You should be able to tell that we [audio lovers] are a small market. Consider how many of your friends and relatives are interested in your rig. And the smaller populated areas suffer more than metro areas. I am 2.5 hours away from any sort of high end retailer, and even then they are limited in selection.
Nowhere to hear speakers and amps anymore!
When I started buying stereo equipment in the 1970’s (yes, I’m old) in Seattle, there were many retail stores where I could hear and compare equipment. I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1982 and found the same number of great stores until 2000 when they started disappearing and now there are none! There are plenty of Home Theater contractors, but I can’t find an audiophile store anywhere short of going to LA or back to Seattle! Is there an “audio desert” in my area? Seems like an opportunity for someone! Am I missing something?